Scissors Assembly

ABSTRACT

An endoscopic scissor instrument includes an elongate hollow member, an actuator that moves axially through the hollow member, and first and second scissor blades with respective cutting surfaces. At least one of the scissor blades is rotatably coupled to the hollow member adjacent its distal end. At least one of the scissor blades includes a base supporting a resilient leaf-spring portion that includes a respective cutting edge. The resilient leaf-spring portion extends from the base in a cantilevered arrangement and generates a spring force acting on the respective cutting edge such that in a loaded state there is an automatic preload force imparted between the cutting edges of the scissor blades to maintain a consistent and continuous mating force between the two opposed sharpened cutting edges preferably over the complete range of rotational movement of the scissor blades.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/335,656, filedDec. 16, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to surgical scissors instruments and, moreparticularly, to endoscopic scissor instruments having small-sizedscissor blades.

2. State of the Art

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure that isused to assess the interior of the human body using an endoscope. Anendoscope generally consists of a rigid or flexible tube, an fiber opticillumination system to guide light provided by a light source throughthe tube of the endoscope in order to illuminate the organ or objectunder inspection, and a viewing system for collecting an image of theorgan or object under inspection and for recording the image on aninternal CCD device (video-endoscope) or for transmitting the imagethrough the tube via a fiber optic bundle to an external video processorfor viewing (fiber-endoscope). The endoscope can include one or more“operating” channels (typically 2-4•mm in diameter) that provide forpassage of specialized medical instruments through the endoscope andinto the field of view. Such specialized instruments (which can includebiopsy forceps, brushes, needles, snares, scissors, graspers, cutters,clip appliers, etc.) can be used to take biopsies and retrieve organs(or pieces thereof) and/or foreign objects from the inside of the body.In some instruments (especially those with lateral-viewing optics), thedistal tip of the operating channel incorporates a small deflectableelevator or bridge, which permits some directional control over theinstrument exiting therefrom. These general principles apply to mostendoscopes, but specific instruments differ in length, size, stiffness,as well as other characteristics as the instruments are typicallydesigned for a particular application. Endoscopy can involve, forexample, the gastrointestinal tract such as the esophagus, stomach andduodenum, small intestine, and colon. It can also involve therespiratory tract, the urinary tract, the female reproductive system,and the organs of the chest. It can also involve the interior of a joint(arthroscopy). Many endoscopic procedures are considered to berelatively painless and, at worst, associated with moderate discomfort.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique in whichoperations in the abdomen or thorax are performed through smallincisions (usually 0.5-1.5 cm) via a laparoscope. There are generallytwo types of laparoscopes, including a telescopic rod lens system thatis usually connected to a video camera (single chip or three chip) and adigital laparoscope where the camera is placed at the end of thelaparoscope, thus eliminating the rod lens system. A fiber optic cablesystem connected to a light source (halogen or xenon is inserted througha surgical port to illuminate the operative field for viewing. Theabdomen is usually insufflated with carbon dioxide gas to create aworking and viewing space. Specialized surgical instruments can beintroduced into the abdomen or thorax through a surgical port in orderto take biopsies and retrieve organs (or pieces thereof) and/or foreignobjects from the inside of the body.

The specialized surgical instruments used for endoscopy, laparoscopy orarthroscopy generally include end effector means (e.g., graspers,cutters, forceps, scissors, clip appliers, etc.) mounted adjacent thedistal end of a tube or coil. Handles (or other actuation control means)are mounted to the proximal end of the tube or coil and move an actuatoraxially through the tube or coil. The distal end of the actuator ismechanically coupled to the end effector means in a manner thattransforms the axial movement of the actuator into the desired movementof the end effector means. Such specialized endoscopic, laparoscopic orarthroscopic surgical instruments are collectively referred to herein asendoscopic surgical instruments or endoscopic instruments. These generalprinciples apply to most endoscopic instruments, but specific endoscopicinstruments differ in length, size, stiffness, as well as othercharacteristics as the instruments are typically designed for aparticular application as such instruments can be used for a widevariety of minimally invasive surgical procedures, including theendoscopic, laparoscopic and arthroscopic applications summarized above.

Endoscopic surgical scissors instruments generally include a pair ofscissor blades pivotably mounted adjacent the distal end of a tube orcoil. The scissor blades have sharpened edges that effect cutting oftissue during pivotal movement of the scissor blades relative to oneanother. Handles (or other actuation control means) are mounted to theproximal end of the tube or coil and move an actuator axially throughthe tube or coil. The distal end of the actuator is mechanically coupledto the scissor blades in a manner that transforms the axial movement ofthe actuator into pivoting movement of the scissor blades.

Endoscopic scissors instruments may be generally classified as either“single acting” or “double acting.” In a single acting instrument, astationary scissor blade is supported adjacent the distal end of thetube or coil and a movable scissor blade is coupled to the distal end ofthe actuator and is supported adjacent the distal end of the tube orcoil for rotation relative to the stationary scissor blade in accordancewith actuation transmitted by the actuator. In double actinginstruments, two scissor blades are coupled to the distal end of theactuator and supported adjacent the distal end of the tube or coil forrotation relative to one another in accordance with actuationtransmitted by the actuator.

The construction of the scissor blades theoretically supplies a movingcontact point between the opposing cutting edges as the scissor bladesare closed by their pivotable movement. In order to effect a smoothcutting action, the engaging cutting edges must be kept in a movingcontact point throughout the closing of the scissor blades. Typicalscissor designs usually accomplish this by the use of any of thefollowing methods: firstly, via a mechanism or feature separated fromthe blades that biases the scissor blades together as the scissor bladesare closed; secondly, by dimensioning the blades with a longitudinallybowed profile that forces the opposed scissor blades against each otheras the scissor blades are closed and lastly by a very accuratelyconstructed assembly with no mechanical slop in the dimensions of, orthe positioning of, the scissors' blades or related components

The biasing means of the first example typically is accomplished bytightening the scissors' pivot nut to remove all dimensional slop in theassembly or with a cammed surface behind the pivot area that effectsbiasing of the scissor blades closer together as they close over eachother. In the second method, which is used most commonly for larger orlonger scissor blades, such as those in a standard full-sized scissor asused in regular “open” surgery, a bowed-profile that runs along thelongitudinal axis of the scissor blade forces the cutting edgestogether. This method gives a mostly adequate cutting performance foropen style surgical scissors. However for smaller scissor blades such asthose used in endoscopic devices, the total loss of resiliency, due tothe stiffness of small blades, means that a bowed profile in the scissorblade will not work and will only result in the contacting cutting edgesgouging each other or quickly wearing away. Therefore in the currentlyavailable endoscopic scissor devices such small non-resilient and rigidblades must be designed to maintain the edge to edge contact through theuse of components with very stringent dimensional accuracies, tighttolerances and tight fits. This last design method involves difficultand costly assembly and manufacturing processes. In addition, theeffects of using cams or similar features in the design of smallendoscopic scissors is limited by the remoteness of the cam surface fromthe cutting edges and because of persistent assembly “slop” offerslittle improvement to the problem of maintaining edge to edge contact.These design schemes have historically failed to give small surgicalscissor instruments the desired sensitive feel and cutting performancethat surgeons require and are familiar with through their experience inopen surgery using larger hand-held surgical scissors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an endoscopic scissors instrument with small-sizescissor blades with improved cutting performance through an improvedbiasing means whereby features contained in and as part of the bladeitself automatically provide a preload to its cutting edge as twoscissor blades move past one another.

The invention also provides such an endoscopic scissors instrument thatavoids inherently expensive components, assembly and manufacturingprocesses.

According to the invention, an endoscopic scissors instrument includesan elongate hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end, anactuator that moves axially through the hollow member, and first andsecond scissor blades with respective cutting edges. At least one of thefirst and second scissor blades are rotatably coupled to the hollowmember adjacent its distal end. At least one of the first and secondscissor blades includes a base supporting a resilient leaf-springportion that defines a respective cutting edge. The resilientleaf-spring portion extends from the base in a cantilevered arrangementalong the length of the base. The cantilevered arrangement and anglingof the leaf-spring portion serves to generate a spring force acting onthe respective cutting edge such that, when in a loaded state, there isan automatic preloading force imparted between the cutting edges of thescissors' blades that maintains a consistent and continuous mating forcebetween the two opposed sharpened cutting edges, preferably over thecomplete range of rotational movement of the scissor.

It will be appreciated that the endoscopic scissor instrument of thepresent invention provides improved edge to edge preload of the opposedscissor blades and thus enables superior cutting quality and operatorfeel for endoscopic scissor instruments where historically it has notbeen available.

Additional advantages of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken inconjunction with the provided figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary endoscopic scissors instrumentthat embodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the distal portion of the endoscopicscissors instrument of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present inventionwhere the scissor blades of the instrument are positioned in an openconfiguration.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the distal portion of the endoscopicscissors instrument of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present inventionwhere the scissor blades of the instrument are positioned in a closedconfiguration.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views of the scissor blades of theendoscopic scissors instrument of FIGS. 1-3 in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of one of the scissor blades of FIGS. 4A and 4Bin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the scissor blade of FIG. 5A alongthe section labeled 5B-5B in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the scissor blade of FIGS. 5A and5B along the section labeled 5C-5C in FIG. 5B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are front cross-sectional views of the respectivescissor blades of the instrument of FIGS. 1-3 along section linessimilar to 5B-5B in FIG. 5A which illustrate the relief angles of thecutting features of the respective scissor blades relative to thecorresponding blade supports in accordance with the present invention;the cross hatching of the section is omitted to more clearly show therelief angles depicted therein.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the scissor blade of FIG. 6B alongthe section labeled 6C-6C in FIG. 6B which illustrates the blade biasangle of the cutting feature of the respective scissor blade relative toits blade supports in accordance with the present invention; the crosshatching of the section is omitted to more clearly show the blade biasangle depicted therein.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5B of an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For purposes herein, the “distal end” of a surgical instrument or anypart thereof, is the end most distant from the surgeon and closest tothe surgical site, while the “proximal end” of the instrument or anypart thereof, is the end most proximate the surgeon and farthest fromthe surgical site.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary endoscopic scissorsinstrument 101 in accordance with the invention includes a housing 121for supporting a handle assembly 123. A hollow tubular member 125 isprovided with a proximal end fixably coupled to the housing 121 and adistal end fixably coupled to a clevis 127. The hollow tubular member125 can be a coil to provide for bending and flexibility or can be arigid or operator plastically deformable tube. A push rod actuator 128extends through the hollow tubular member 125 to the clevis 127. Thepush rod actuator 128 is coupled to a pair of scissor blades 131, 133via linkages, cams 134 a, 134 b, or other suitable coupling features andthe scissor blades 131, 133 are rotatably mounted in the clevis 127 by apivot post 129. In this configuration, axial movement of the push rodactuator 128 within the hollow tubular member 125 causes the scissorblades 131, 133 to rotate around the post 129 and thus pivot relative toone another. Additional details of the hollow tubular member 125, theclevis 127, and the push rod actuator 128 may be obtained by referenceto U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,298 to Smith et al., herein incorporated byreference in its entirety. It will also be appreciated that otheractuating mechanisms and other mechanisms for causing rotation of thescissor blades could be utilized for the endoscopic scissors instrumentof the invention. Indeed, rather than using a clevis with a post aroundwhich the scissor blades rotate, the scissor blades could be providedwith arcuate grooves as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,545 toHonkanen, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Theinvention applies to single acting and double acting endoscopic surgicalscissors. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that othermechanisms for linking the actuation mechanism to the scissor blades131, 133 may be utilized, such as links and pins, or a pin riding incammed slots, or other suitable actuating mechanism. Indeed, if desired,in a single acting instrument, the push rod or actuating wire could bedirectly connected to the scissor blade, and in double actinginstruments, two connected push rods or actuating wires could beutilized for direct connection to the scissor blades.

In the illustrative embodiment, the handle assembly 123 includes amovable front handle 135 and a fixed rear handle 137. The front handle135 has an aperture 139 defined therethrough which enables a user tograsp and move the front handle 137 relative to the rear handle 137.More particularly, front handle 135 is selectively moveable by the userfrom a first position offset from the rear handle 137 to a secondposition in closer proximity to the rear handle 137. Such movement istransmitted to axial movement of the push rod actuator 128 extendingthrough the hollow tubular member 125 in order to impart pivotalmovement of the scissor blades 131, 133 relative to one another. Acontrol wheel 141 can be supported within the housing 121 and extendthrough sidewalls of the housing 121 to allow the user to rotatetogether the hollow tubular member 125, the clevis 127 and the scissorblades 131, 133 mounted thereto or to rotate the clevis 127 and thescissor blades 131, 133 independently of and separately from, the hollowtubular member 125.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the scissor blades 131, 133 isprovided with an inside cutting edge 151, 153 that contact one anotheras the scissor blades 131, 133 pivotably rotate relative to one anotherduring use. During such rotation, a point of contact of the cuttingedges 151, 153 moves along the cutting edges. In an open configuration,the point of contact is nearer to the pivot point or clevis (FIG. 2). Asthe blades close, the point of contact moves further from the pivotpoint or clevis (FIG. 3). In FIG. 2, the scissor blades 131, 133 areshown in an open configuration where the cutting edges 151, 153 are inbearing contact near the pivot point at a point shown generally by thecircled portion 155.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a schematic view of scissor blades 131, 133, eachof are realized by two unitary parts 201, 203. The first part 201,referred to herein as a “blade support”, is thicker and stiffer than thesecond part 203, referred to herein as a “cutting feature.” The thincutting feature 203 includes a sharpened cutting edge (151,153) thatextends along the entire length of the top edge of the cutting feature203 preferably with a tapered profile as shown. Other profiled designs,such as a stepped profile or other variable profile can be used.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the blade support 201 includes a first side 202 aadjacent a plane through which the cutting edges 151, 153 of the bladesextend, and an opposite second side 202 b. In addition, the bladesupport includes a thru-hole 205 that receives the pivot post 129 aswell as a cam-slot 207 disposed proximal to the thru hole 205 and whichreceives a cam pin 134 a or 134 b connecting to the distal end of theactuator rod of the instrument. This arrangement provides for pivotalmovement of the scissor blades 131, 133 relative to another in responseto axial movement of the actuator rod as is well known.

As best shown in the cross-section of FIG. 5B, the thin cutting feature203 of the scissor blades 131, 133 realizes a cantilever springarrangement by fixing its bottom portion 209 to the blade support 201with its top portion 211 angled or otherwise arranged to hold a biasalong the length of the respective sharpened cutting edge (labeled 151in FIG. 5B) that will ensure that the cutting edge intersects theopposing blade's cutting edge in a scissor assembly. In this cantileverspring arrangement, the thin cutting feature 203 acts as a resilientleaf-spring that allows for resilient deflection of the top portion 211of the cutting feature 203 relative to its bottom portion 209 beingrigidly held and positioned by the thick blade support 201. This allowsone sharpened cutting edge 151 to forcibly engage with the opposingblade's cutting edge 153 in a resilient and deflective manner so nogouging or wear damages the cutting edges. Such resilient deflection isdepicted by vector arrow 213 in FIG. 5B. The cantilever springarrangement of the cutting feature 203 extends along the length of thecutting feature 203 such that the resilient deflection of the topportion 211 relative to its bottom portion 209 and the blade support 201is provided along the entire length of the cutting feature 203. Thecantilever spring arrangement of the cutting feature 203 also provides aspring moment that is primarily directed across the cutting edge of thecutting feature 203 laterally outward away from the blade support 201 inthe direction of vector arrow 215 as shown in FIG. 5B.

The cantilever spring arrangement and positional bias of the cuttingfeatures 203 ensure that the cutting edges 151, 153 of the two blades131, 133 are in intersecting planes as the blades 131, 133 are closed.In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C, the opposedcutting features 203 extend from respective base supports 201 at arelief angle a relative to the rotational planes 205 of the respectivescissor blades. Moreover, as best shown in FIG. 6C, the lengthwiseprofile of the respective cutting features 203 of the scissor blades areangled at a blade bias angle β relative to the rotational planes 205 ofthe scissor blades. The bias angle of the cutting features of the twoblades point toward one another as is evident from FIGS. 6A and 6B. Inan illustrative embodiment, the relief angle a of the cutting featuresis in the range between 3° and 7° (more preferably on the order of)5°and the blade bias angle β of the cutting features is in the rangebetween 0.5° and 3° (more preferably on the order of 1.5°). Importantly,the relief angle a and the blade bias angle β of the cutting features203 are provided such that selectively only the cutting edges 151, 153of the two blades 131, 133 are on intersecting planes and therefore edgeto edge contact one another is insured as the blades 131, 133 areclosed. These design aspects of the leaf-spring provide a necessaryblade-to-blade preload force as the blades 131, 133 are closed, whichmaintains a consistent and continuous forceful contact of the twoopposed cutting edges 151, 153 over the complete range of rotationalmovement of the scissor blades 131, 133. Using this design strategyenables a small scissor to use components and manufacturing techniqueswith much lower quality standards without need of the high tolerance andultra fine positioning that is presently required in surgical scissorswhile elevating the cutting ability and feel to a level beyond that ofexisting endoscopic and other small surgical scissors.

In the preferred embodiment, the blade support 201 of the respectiveblade has a thickness between 0.25 mm and 5 mm, while the cuttingfeature 203 of the respective blade has a thickness between 0.05 mm and0.5 mm and a length less than 50 mm and preferably a the range between 5mm and 20 mm. FIG. 5C illustrates an exemplary embodiment where theblade support 201 has a maximal thickness of 0.6 mm, and the cuttingfeature 203 has a thickness of 0.08 mm and a length of 7 mm. In thepreferred embodiment, the scissor blades 131, 135 (including the cuttingfeatures 203 of the respective blades) are realized from high tensilestrength stainless steel such as high chrome alloys.

Advantageously, the endoscopic scissor instrument of the presentinvention provides an improved automatic edge to edge preload of theopposed scissor blades while avoiding the problems associated with abowed blade profile and biasing cams used in the prior art, and thusenables superior cutting quality for endoscopic scissor instrumentswhere historically it has not been available.

There have been described and illustrated herein scissors instrumentswith improved scissor blades. While particular embodiments of theinvention have been described, it is not intended that the invention belimited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad inscope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise.Thus, while the surgical scissors instrument illustrated herein forexemplary purposes were double acting scissors where both blades pivotrelative to each other, it will be recognized that the invention can beapplied to a single acting scissors with one blade fixed and the otherblade pivoting relative to the fixed blade. It may also be applied to ascissors where only one blade incorporates the present invention coupledwith a standard rigid opposing blade. Also, while particular actuationmechanisms were described for causing the pivoting of the scissorblades, it will be appreciated that other mechanism could be utilized.Thus, for example, the instrument could be a flexible instrument with anouter tube formed from a coiled element which could be used through anendoscope channel or a rigid instrument with a relatively stiff outertube of structural plastic or tubular metal which could be used througha laparoscope or arthroscope. In addition, while particular materialsand dimensions have been disclosed for the scissor blades of theendoscopic scissors instruments, it will be understood that othermaterials and dimensions can be used. Moreover, while a particularunitary configuration of the respective scissor blades is shown, othernon-unitary configurations can be used. For example, referring to FIG.7, it is contemplated that the cutting features 203 a of the respectiveblades (blade 151 a shown) can be a separate and distinct part that issecured to the blade support 201 a of the scissor blade by welding(e.g., by laser welding, spot welding, resistance welding), one or morescrews or rivets, or other suitable mechanical fixation means. In thisconfiguration, the blade support can be realized from a wide range ofmaterials, such as a stainless steel, plastics, ceramics, etc. It willtherefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet othermodifications could be made to the provided invention without deviatingfrom its spirit and scope as so claimed.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A set of scissors blades mounted relative to eachother such that at least one of said scissors blades is rotatablerelative to the other in a scissoring motion between open and closedpositions, comprising: a first scissors blade including a first featurewith a first cutting edge; and a second scissors blade including alongitudinally extending rigid supporting base having a midline and alongitudinally extending lateral side offset relative to said midline,and a resilient leaf-spring portion substantially thinner than said baseand having a deflectable second cutting edge that extends along a lengthof said leaf-spring portion, said leaf-spring portion extending fromsaid lateral side of said base in a cantilevered arrangement such thatsaid leaf-spring portion is laterally offset from said midline of saidbase, and said leaf-spring portion extending from said lateral side ofsaid base at a bias angle relative to said base, and wherein as said atleast one of said first and second scissors blades is rotated relativeto the other between open and closed positions, (i) said first andsecond cutting edges are brought into contact with each other at acontact point, said contact point moving along said length of said leafspring portion as said first and second scissors blades are rotated, andsaid second cutting edge resiliently deflects against said first cuttingedge at said contact point, (ii) said bias angle of said leaf-springportion relative to said base generates a lateral spring force in adirection transverse to a plane through which one of said first andsecond scissors blades is rotated relative to the other when said firstand second blades are moved relative to each other between said open andclosed positions and against said first feature of said first blade, and(iii) said leaf-spring portion is flat when not subject to deflection.17. A set of scissors blades according to claim 16, wherein: saidleaf-spring portion is formed discrete from said base and coupled tosaid base along said length of said base.
 18. A set of scissors bladesaccording to claim 17, wherein: said leaf-spring portion is welded tosaid blade support.
 19. A set of scissors blades according to claim 16,wherein: said first scissors blade includes a longitudinally extendingrigid supporting base and an immediately adjacent resilient, leaf-springportion substantially thinner than said base, said leaf-spring portionforming said first feature, and said first cutting edge beingdeflectable, said leaf-spring portion extending from said base of saidfirst scissors blade in a cantilevered arrangement along a length ofsaid base, and longitudinally coextending with said base, wherein saidfirst and second cutting edges of said first and second scissors bladesresiliently deflect about each other at said contact point.
 20. A set ofscissors blades according to claim 16, wherein: said spring force beinglaterally generated maintains a consistent and continuous matingengagement of said first and second cutting edges as said at least oneof said first and second scissors blades is rotated relative to theother between said open and closed positions.
 21. A set of scissorsblades according to claim 16, wherein: said second cutting edge has alength less than 50 mm.
 22. A set of scissors blades according to claim16, wherein: said resilient leaf-spring portion has a thickness between0.05 mm and 0.5 mm.
 23. A set of scissors blades according to claim 16,wherein: said resilient leaf-spring portion has a tapered profile alongits lengthwise dimension.
 24. A set of scissors blades according toclaim 16, wherein: said resilient leaf-spring portion extends from saidbase at a relief angle relative to a rotational plane of said base ofsaid second scissors blade.
 25. A set of scissors blades mountedrelative to each other such that at least one of said scissors blades isrotatable relative to the other in a scissoring motion between open andclosed positions, comprising: a first scissors blade including a firstfeature with a first cutting edge, a second scissors blade including alongitudinally extending rigid supporting base and a laterally offset,resilient leaf-spring portion substantially thinner than said base, saidleaf-spring portion extending from a lateral side of said base in acantilevered arrangement along a length of said base, and longitudinallyextending with said base, said leaf-spring portion having a secondcutting edge that extends along a length of said leaf-spring portion,and said leaf spring portion extending from and immediately adjacent tosaid base at a bias angle relative to said base and transverse to aplane through which one of said first and second scissors blades isrotated relative to the other when said first and second blades aremoved relative to each other between said open and closed positions togenerate a lateral mating force between said first and second cuttingedges at a contact point.
 26. A set of scissors blades according toclaim 25, wherein: said leaf-spring portion is formed discrete from saidbase and is coupled to said base along said length of said base.
 27. Aset of scissors blades according to claim 26, wherein: said leaf-springportion is welded to said blade support.
 28. A set of scissors bladesaccording to claim 25, wherein: said first scissors blade includes alongitudinally extending rigid supporting base, and said first featureis a resilient leaf-spring portion substantially thinner than said base,said leaf-spring portion extending from a lateral side of said base ofsaid first scissors blade in a cantilevered arrangement along a lengthof said base.
 29. A set of scissors blades according to claim 25,wherein: said first and second scissors blades are rotatably coupled toeach other about a pivot axle.